Law officers oppose bill

By Tony Tanner, president, Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017 | 2 a.m.

Editor’s note: The following letter was sent to Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., and was copied to the Sun.

The Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association, formed in 1953, is a professional association dedicated to the cooperation and understanding of all law enforcement agencies in the state of Nevada in order to provide law enforcement services of the highest and professional standards to the citizens of the state of Nevada.

It has come to our attention that the Senate is considering a bill that would amend the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to allow for the importation of foreign drugs into the United States without going through the FDA approval process.

We, along with other law enforcement associations, strongly oppose this legislation. It is our belief this bill will dramatically increase the flow of illicit prescription drugs into the United States.

Passage of this bill would open the door to increased amounts of counterfeit prescription drugs, many of which could contain fentanyl resulting in an increase in overdoses and death. We further believe this would add to the continuing opioid epidemic facing our nation.

We strongly urge you to oppose this proposed legislation.